By Elizabeth Harvey, Needham, MA & Emerson College I recommend Gripped Part 4: Smoke & Mirrors by Stacy Padula to teenagers and young adults. Gripped Part 4 deals with accurate real life scenarios involving struggling teens and young adults. This book and the entire Gripped series serves as an outlet of useful information, helping build … Continue reading Elizabeth Harvey Reviews “Gripped 4: Smoke & Mirrors” by Stacy Padula
Article by Elizabeth Harvey of Needham, Massachusetts. I would recommend Gripped Part 1 to Middle and High School students, as it is a quick and easy read that immediately captivates the reader. There is a lack of books and information about drugs and alcohol that provide insightful information put into a context that teenagers will find both entertaining and educational; making Gripped Part 1 a perfect book for Middle and High School students.
Written by Emily Han, Easton, MA The book, Gripped Part 2: Blindsided, by Stacy A. Padula continues the storylines of teenagers affected by substance abuse. By splitting the timeline (past and present) in the story, readers can see how the characters are changing due to their drug use. Those who were concerned with schoolwork, grades, … Continue reading Teen Fiction Novel Exposes Consequences of Substance Abuse
Written by Elizabeth Harvey, Emerson College Gripped Part 3: The Fallout is the fascinating third installment in the Gripped series, which features the young characters’ personal and group development throughout the summer before their first year of high school. This book picks up where Blindsided ended and expands on the subject of drug and alcohol … Continue reading New Teen Novel Sparks Important Conversations Between Friends, Parents, and Children
Written by Elizabeth Harvey, Emerson College Gripped Part 3: The Fallout touches upon the use of Adderall, acid, marijuana, alcohol, and Xanax. For that reason, parents may not want their children to read the novel. However, although Gripped portrays substance use and abuse, it does so in a way that can be understood by tweens … Continue reading Uncensored Teen Novel Shares Important Truths That Should Not Be Ignored
When a book is published, people see the author’s name on the cover, but hardly ever do they hear about the team of people who helped bring the story to fruition. Yet, behind the scenes, a group of talented individuals may have provided insight and feedback to help the author keep the book relevant to … Continue reading The People Behind the Gripped Book Series
Written by Elizabeth Harvey, Emerson College How has your opinion of Taylor changed from the beginning of the series until the end of book 2? I was happy with the progress Taylor has made that became evident by the end of book 2. Although he still has to figure out many things and relationships in … Continue reading A Close Look at the Characters in Gripped Part 2: Blindsided
The drug use and sexual content in this book will surely get it banned from schools, but the topics are too relevant in teenage culture to be ignored. Why do you think this book should be read by kids in middle school and high school?
Written by Elizabeth Harvey of Emerson College Gripped Part 2 is the second book in the Gripped series and continues to expand on the themes of teenage drug and alcohol use in the context of the various character’s personal lives and relationships with one another. Taylor Dunkin has gotten himself involved in not just taking … Continue reading An Editorial Review of Gripped Part 2: Blindsided by Stacy A. Padula
Article by Elizabeth Harvey of Needham, MA Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told by Stacy A. Padula is an essential book for both parents and teens alike to read. The book follows multiple characters through a fast-paced and impossible to put down storyline that dives into the subject matter of addiction, specifically teenage … Continue reading Why Parents and Teens Should Read “Gripped Part 1: The Truth We Never Told”
